Two pupils from Nsamba Secondary and Primary Schools have drowned after a boat they were in capsized on Mukamba Lagoon in Lunga District due to strong waves.
The pupils have been identified as Patrick Bupe 14, a Grade seven pupil at Nsamba Primary School, and Benson Kaseka, 16 a Grade nine pupil at Nsamba Secondary school.
Nsamba Primary School Head Teacher Humphrey Mwewa told ZANIS in Lunga today that the two are alleged have gone to look for bumble grass for making a garden while still on holiday.
Mr Mwewa disclosed that on the way they battled with a strong wind which hit the boat and capsized.
He explained that nearby communities rushed to the scene and managed to retrieve one body while the other was retrieved in the early hours of today.
The Head Teachers said the boys will be put to rest today.
And Lunga District commissioner Matthews Mwewa is saddened by the loss of the two boys.
He has since urged the public to take precautionary measures when travelling by water.
The incidence comes barely a week after a head Teacher at Kabulu Primary School drowned in the same manner in same lagoon.
Very sad. Condolences to the family. Our waters have claimed so many lives since the stay of the year.
Sincerest condolences MTSRIP, everyday we keep hearing these sad stories. DMMU where are you to mitigate these disasters, we are losing too many people to the waters. Our people need proper boats and safety vests when navigating the rivers and lakes. The chiefs, head men, councillors and MPs need to take this as a red alert matter, you only talk when you want to increase your allowances but are silent on the lives of your people..shame on you. One day anyone of us or our loved ones may have to cross a river or lake and they will be at risk to drowning due to a lack of safety equipment, canoes and boats that are at risk of capsizing. Let us stop this now.
Minister Frank Tayali, we cannot go on like this. Please respond appropriately even through a statutory instrument. Create harbours/ports controlled by your ministry where all marine traffic can set sail from or drop anchor. These will be the equivalent of bus stations. Your officers will then ensure that minimum safety standards are enforced from safety jackets, loading limits, training of crews, regular servicing of vessels etc. All canoes must be banned from commercial use.
@Gunner-WE CANT GO ON LIKE THIS! I reiterate.
I made a similar suggestion on another platform. Our governments are sleepy and its not difficult to see. Kenneth Kaunda created UBZ the United Bus Company of Zambia. What stops all succeeding governments from creating a United Boat Company of Zambia? We have the largest number of lakes and waterways in Africa and we dont exploit them for anything? Mweru, Bangweulu Tanganyika, Luapula, Zambezi Kafue and Kariba should be commercial centres. If you are waiting for capitalism to lead it wont. Government should lead the way by constructing relevant infra-structure. Ships should be sailing on all our lakes but we are so narrowly focused on the copper in Mufulira Solwezi Kitwe we are missing a treasure right under our noses!
@Gunner-WE CANT GO ON LIKE THIS! I reiterate.
I made a similar suggestion on another platform. Our governments are sleepy and its not difficult to see. Kenneth Kaunda created UBZ the United Bus Company of Zambia. What stops all succeeding governments from creating a United Boat Company of Zambia?
We have the largest number of lakes and waterways in Africa and we dont exploit them for anything? Mweru, Bangweulu Tanganyika, Luapula, Zambezi Kafue and Kariba should be commercial centres.
If Zambians are waiting for capitalism to lead it wont. Government should lead the way by constructing relevant infra-structure. Ships should be sailing on all our lakes but we are so narrowly focused on the copper in Mufulira Solwezi Kitwe we are missing a treasure right under our noses!
If Zambians are waiting for capitalism to lead it wont. Government should lead the way by constructing relevant infra-structure.
Ships should be sailing on all our lakes but we are so narrowly focused on the copper in Mufulira Solwezi Kitwe we are missing a treasure right under our noses!
Too much censoring by LT I have had to chop and post my one post above